Ignition means and method for a cooking apparatus and the like



Jan. 20, 1970 H. w. RICE 3,490,435

IGNITION MEANS AND METHOD FOR A COOKING APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 29. 1967 I 8 lllllllllll g; M

L/ 1-2 H w w I 2 INVENTOR HAROLD w. RICE Y @wf dw1 HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,490,435 IGNITION MEANS AND METHOD FOR A COOKING APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Harold W. Rice, Berwyn, Pa., assignor to Robertshaw Controls Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 29, 1967, Ser. No. 671,861 Int. Cl. F24c 3/10; F23q 3/00; H01t 13/40 US. Cl. 126-39 20 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to an ignition means for a cooking apparatus or the like which has a plurality of pilot burner means associated with respective main burner means of the cooking apparatus, the ignition means comprising piezoelectric crystal means that has its stresses altered in a repetitive manner to produce an ignition spark output in a substantially continuous manner that is distributed in series to all of the pilot burner means in sequence to assure that all of the pilot burner means are ignited once the ignition means is rendered operative.

This invention relates to improved ignition means for a cooking apparatus or the like as well as to an improved method for igniting burner means of such a cooking apparatus or the like.

It is well known that many cooking apparatus of the fuel burning variety have individual pilot burner means for each main burner thereof whether the main burner is disposed in the oven or on top of the cooking apparatus, the pilot burners being continuously burning pilot burners, and when adversely put out because of air currents or the like, the same must be reignited by the housewife or the like utilizing matches and the like. I

However, according to the teachings of this invention, ignition means are provided for such pilot burner means wherein the housewife or the like can initiate the actuation of the ignition means completely remote from the pilot burner means so as to ignite each pilot burner means in an automatic, simple and elfective manner.

In particular, the ignition means of this invention includes piezoelectric crystal means that will have the stresses therein repetitively altered in an automatic manner once the ignition means is rendered operative to produce an electrical spark igniting output that will be automatically distributed to each of the pilot burners in sequence one or more times to assure that all of the pilot burners of the cooking apparatus will be lit.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved ignition means for a cooking apparatus or the like, the ignition means of this invention having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereshown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for igniting burner means of the cooking apparatus or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a cooking apparatus utilizing the ignition means of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic view illustrating the ignition system for the cooking apparatus of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a partial view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

3,490,435 Patented Jan. 20, 1970 While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable for providing ignition means for a cooking apparatus, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination'thereof to provide ignition means for other apparatus as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, a cooking apparatus is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and has a conventional oven opened and closed by a door means 11,'the'cooking apparatus including a plurality of main top burner means generally indicated by the reference numerals 12, 13, 14 and 15. While the ignition system of this invention is hereinafter described as being particularly adaptable for use with the top burner means 12 15 of the cooking apparatus 10, it is to be understood that the features of this invention can also provide ignition means for just the bake and broil burners of the oven of the cooking apparatus 10 or in combination withthe top burner means 12-15, as desired. However, since the ignition means of this invention will apply to any type of burner means, such ignition system is only hereinafter described for the top burner means 1215.

As illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, a pilot burner means is associated with each main top burner means whereby such pilot burner means for the respective main burners 12-15 are generally indicated by the reference numerals 16, 17, 18 and 19'.

As previously set forth, the ignition means of this invention is adapted to be actuated by the housewife or the like to automatically ignite all of the pilot burner means of the apparatus 10 in a simple and effective manner.

In particular, the ignition means of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 in FIG- URE 2 and is adapted to be rendered operative by the housewife or the like pushig in on an on-off member or button 21 illustrated in FIGURE 1 as being located on the control panel means 22 of the apparatus 10 adjacent'the selector knobs 23, 24, 25 and 26 that control the flow of fuel to the respective main burners 12, 13, 14 and 15 in aconventional manner.

The pushbutton or on-o member 21 is adapted to actuate a timer operated valve means 27 carried by the apparatus 10 and being adapted to alternately interconnect a conduit 28 with a conduit 29 and to disconnect the conduit 28 from the conduit 29 while interconnecting the atmosphere to the conduit 29, the timer means 27 so connecting and disconnecting the conduits 28 and 29 for a predetermined number of times once the timer means 27 has been rendered operative by actuation of the pushbutton means 21. i

The conduit 28 is interconnected to a pneumatic source 30, such as the inlet of a vacuum pump or the like. The other conduit 29 is interconnected to a chamber 31 of a vacuum operated actuator 32 suitably mounted to the frame means 37 of the apparatus 10 and comprising a cup-shaped housing 33 having its opened end closed by a flexible diaphragm 34 normally urged to the left-hand position illustrated in FIGURE 2 by a compression spring 35 disposed within the chamber 31. However, when the vacuum source conduit 28 is interconnected to the conduit 29 by the timer operated valve means 27, the evacuation of the chamber 31 of the actuator 32 by the vacuum source 30 will pull the diaphragm 34 to the right in op position to the force of the compression spring 35 to move an actuating post means 36 to the right therewith a predetermined distance. Conversely, with the diaphragm 34 now moved to the right by the vacuum source 30, the subsequent interconnection of the conduit 29 to the atmosphere by the timer operated valve means 27 will cause the atmosphere to again enter the chamber 31 of the actuator 32 and the diaphragm 34 will move back to the full line position illustrated in FIGURE 2 by the force of the compression spring 35 to move the actuating rod 36 to the left in FIGURE 2 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The ignition means 20 of this invention includes a support frame 38 suitably secured to the frame means 37 of the cooking apparatus and carrying a piezoelectric crystal means 39 in a cutout or recess 40 thereof between opposed ends 41 and 42 of the support frame 38.-In particular, the piezoelectric crystal element 39 has opposed pressure pad means 43 and 44 at the opposed longitudinal ends thereof with the pressure pad means 43 having a rounded end 35 bearing against an adjusting screw 46 threadedly carried in a threaded bore 47 passing through the end 41 of the support frame 38.

The other pressure pad 44 bears against a cam element 48 carried by a rocker arm 49 that is adapted to rotate or pivot relative to the support frame 39 and rotate or pivot the cam element 38 in unison therewith about a movable axis generally indicated by the reference numeral 50 in FIGURE 2. The rocker arm 49 carries the cam element 49 at one end 51 thereof and is pivotally connected to the actuating rod 36 of the pneumatically operated actuator 32 by a pivot pin 52 at the other end 53 thereof.

The cam member 48 has a fiat surface 54 bearing against a flat surface 55 of the end 42 of the support frame 38 and a partial true circular surface 56 bearing against a flat surface 57 of the pressure pad means 44. In this manner, when the cam member 48 is pivoted relative to the support frame 38 by the rocker arm 49 being pivoted in a clockwise direction in FIGURE 2 when the vacuum source 30 is interconnected to the chamber 31 of the actuator 32 by the timer operated valve means 27, the cam element 49 has a corner 58, formed by the juncture of the fiat surface 54 and arcuate surface 56 thereof, rocked against the flat surface 55 of the support frame 38 while the axis 50 thereof moves upwardly and to the left to effectively increase the length of the cam element 48 between the surface 55 of the support frame 38 and the pressure pad 44 and thereby impose a longitudinal compressing or squeezing action on the piezoelectric crystal means 39 to substantially alter the stresses thereof in a manner to provide a difference in potential between the support frame 38 and a lead wire 59 interconnected to the crystal means 39 in a conventional manner.

Subsequently, when the cam element 38 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction back to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 by the actuator 32 being interconnected to the atmosphere by the timer operated valve means 27, the relieving of the compressive or squeezing action previously imposed on the crystal element 39 also alters the stresses thereof to create a potential difference between the lead wire 59 and the support frame 38 for a purpose now to be described.

The lead wire 59 is electrically interconnected to a distributor arm 60 of a distributor 61 while the support frame 38 is, in effect, interconnected to ground potential as generally indicated by the reference numeral 62 in FIGURE 2 because the support frame 38 is interconnected to the frame means 37 of the cooking apparatus 10 and the frame means 37 of the cooking apparatus 10 is grounded by being interconnected to the gas supply line and to other conventional grounding means.

While the movement of the distributor arm 60 of the distributor 61 can be independently operated, the ignition means of this invention is so constructed and arranged that the movement of the distributor arm 60 is synchronized with the actuation and deactuation of the pneumatically operated actuator 32 by any suitable interconnecting means 63 as will be apparent hereinafter.

The distributor arm 60 of the distributor 61 is adapted to be indexed in sequence so as to electrically interconnect with a plurality of electrical terminal means 64, 65, 66 and 67 of an insulating distributor plate means 68 of the distributor 61.

The terminal means 64, 65, 66 and 67 of the distributor 61 are respectively electrically interconnected to electrodes 69, 70, 71 and 72 carried by the frame means 37 of the cooking apparatus 10 while being electrically insulated therefrom, each electrode 69, 70, 71 and 72 being spaced from and disposed adjacent the respective pilot burner means 16, 17, 18 and 19.

The metallic pilot burner means 16, 17, 18 and 19 are directly mounted to the frame means 37 of the cooking apparatus 10 and, thus, are grounded as generally indicated by the reference numerals 73 and 74 in FIG- URE 2 to be at the same potential as the support frame 38 to thereby provide ground electrodes cooperating with the electrodes 69, 70, 71 and 72 to define respective spark gaps 75, 76, 77 and 78 disposed adjacent the fuel outlet means 79, 80, 81 and 82 of the respective pilot burner means 16, 17, 18 and 19.

The operation of the igniting means 20 of this invention for the apparatus 10 will now be described.

When the housewife or the like notices that one of the main burner means 12, 13, 14 or 15' does not ignite when she turns on the respective selector knob 23, 24, 25 or 26 to its on position, or when she actually notices that one or more of the pilot burner means 16, 17, 18 and 19 are not burning, she can merely push inwardly on the pushbutton means 21 to initiate the automatic operation of the ignition means 20 to fully ignite any unlit pilot burner means 16-19.

In particular, when the timer operated valve means 27 is turned on by the pushbutton 21, the timer operated valve means 27 will operate for a predetermined length of time to alternately interconnect the vacuum source conduit 28 to the conduit 29 to actuate the actuator 32 and cause a clockwise movement of the rocker arm 49 and, thus, a squeeze action on the piezoelectric crystal means 39 and to interconnect the atmosphere to the actuated actuator 32 to deactuate the same and cause a counterclockwise movement of the rocker arm 49 and, thus, a relieving of the compressive action on the piezoelectric crystal means 39. This repetitive squeezing and relieving of the crystal means 39 causes the crystal means 39 to create a potential output to the distributor arm 60 in substantially a continuous manner so that as the arm 60 interconnects the lead 59 to the terminal 64, the potential difference across the electrodes 69 and 16 causes a sparking of suflicient magnitude across the spark gap 75 to ignite any unlit fuel issuing from the outlet means 79 of the pilot burner means 16. Since the distributor 61 is indexing the arm 60 in sequence from terminal 64 to terminal 65, from terminal 64 to terminal 66, from terminal 66 to terminal 67 and then back to terminal 64 one or more times during the time period of actuation of the times operated valve means 27, it can be seen that the potential created at the arm 60 by the repetitively squeezed and relieved crystal means 39 will cause sparking in sequence at the spark gaps 75, 76, 77 and 78 to ignite any unlit pilot burner means 16, 17, 18 or 19.

Accordingly, the timer operated valves means 27 can be operated for a predetermined length of time so that each pilot burner means 16, 17, 18 or 19 will have sparks created at the respective spark gaps 75, 76, 77 or 78 thereof in a sequential manner one or more times for each cycle of operation of the ignition means 20 so that the automatic ignition means 20 of this invention will almost assure that all pilot burner means of the cooking apparatus 10 will be fully ignited once, the ignition means 20 is rendered operative by the housewife or the like pushing it on the pushbutton means 21.

Therefore, it can be seen that by utilizing a single crystal element 39, in the manner previously described, the single crystal means 39 is adapted to effectively ignite all of the pilot burner means of the cooking apparatus so that a relatively inexpensive ignition means can be provided for the apparatus 10. While the repetitive and automatic actuation of the crystal means 39 has been previously described as being produced by the pneumatically operated actuator 32, it is to be understood that such repetitive and automatic operation can be accomplished by other cycling means as desired.

For example, another embodiment of the ignition means of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20A in FIGURE 3 and parts thereof similar to the ignition means 20 of FIGURE 2 are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter A.

As illustrated in FIGURE 3, the on-off member or pushbutton 21A is adapted to operate a suitable electric timer 89 which will interconnect the power source leads L and L to leads 90 and 91 leading respectively to a suitable electric motor 92. The motor 92, through suitable drive means 83, will rotate a cam member or element 84 about its axis 85 in a continuous manner as long as the timer 89 interconnects the power source leads L and L thereto.

The cam member or element 84 is adapted to have its cam surface 86 bear against the end 53A of the rocker arm 49A to repititively rock the rocker arm 49A in a counterclockwise and clockwise direction to respectively produce a squeezing action and a relieving action on the piezoelectric crystal means 39A of the ignition means 20A for the purpose previously described. Also, the cam surface 86 of the cam member 84 can be directly interconnected to the distributor means of the ignition means 20A by the interconnection means 63A in the manner previously described for the actuator 32.

Thus, it can be seen that the ignition means 20A of FIGURE 3 operates in substantially the same manner as the ignition means 20 of FIGURE 2 previously described except that the timer means 89 will interconnect electrical current to the electric motor 92 for a predetermined period of time once the times means 89 has been actuated by the housewife or the like pushing in on the on off member 21A whereby the continuous operation of the motor 92 during the predetermined time period will cause repetitive rocking of the rocker arm 39A to produce sparking at the pilot burner means in a sequential manner in the manner previously described during hat predetermined period of time to assure full ignition of all pilot burner means of the cooking apparatus.

Also, while the ignition means of this invention has been described as igniting pilot burner means for the cooking apparatus, it is to be understood that such ignition means can be utilized to directly ignite the main burner means of the cooking apparatus or the like without utilizing intermediate pilot burners therefor,

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cooking apparatus having a plurality of burner means, ignition means for said burner means, automatically operated means for actuating said ignition means to produce an igniting output in substantially a continuous manner for a predetermined time period, and means for serially directing said igniting output to said burner means to tend to ignite each burner means in repeating sequence for said predetermined time period upon each initial actuation of said actuating means.

2. In a cooking apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said ignition means including electrical sparking means whereby said igniting output comprises electric sparks.

3. In a cooking apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said electrical sparing means including piezoelectric crystal means.

4. In a cooking apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said means for actuating said ignition means including actuator means operatively interconnected to said crystal means to alter the stresses therein for producing said electric sparks each time said actuator is actuated.

5. In a cooking apparatus having a plurality of burner means, ignition means for said burner means, means for actuating said ignition means to produce an igniting output in substantially a continuous manner, and means for serially directing said igniting output to said burner means to tend to ignite each burner means in sequence, said ignition means including electrical sparking means whereby said igniting output comprises electric sparks, said electrical sparking means including piezoelectric crystal means, said means for actuating said ignition means including actuator means operatively interconnected to said crystal means to alter the stresses therein for producing said electric sparks each time said actuator is actuated, said actuator means including a pneumatically operated actuator, a pneumatic source, and means for alternately interconnecting said source to said actuator to actuate the same and to disconnect said source from said actuator to deactuate the same.

6. In a cooking apparatus as set forth in claim 5, said means for serially directing said igniting output to said burner means including an electrical distributor, said actuator being operatively interconnected to said distributor to operate the same in a synchronized manner as said actuator is actuated and deactuated.

7. In a cooking apparatus as set forth in claim 4, said actuator means including an electric motor means that drives a cam member to alter said stresses as said cam member is driven by said motor means.

8. In a cooking apparatus as set forth in claim 7, said means for serially directing said igniting output to said burner means including an electrical distributor, said electric motor means being operatively interconnected to said distributor to operate the same in a synchronized manner as said cam member is being driven.

9. In a cooking apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said means for actuating said ignition means actuating said ignition means in a repetitive manner to produce a series of igniting outputs in a substantially continuous manner.

10. In a cooking apparatus having a plurality of burner means, ignition means for said burner means, automatically operated means for actuating said ignition means to produce an igniting output in substantially a continuous manner for a predetermined time period, and means for serially directing said igniting output to said burner means to tend to ignite each burner means in repeating sequences for said predetermined time period upon each initial actuation of said actuating means, said burner means each comprising a main burner and a pilot burner associated therewith, said igniting output tending to ignite said pilot burners.

11. A method for igniting a plurality of burner means for a cooking apparatus comprising the steps of automatically actuating an ignition means to produce an igniting output in substantially a continuous manner for a predetermined time period, and serially directing said igniting output to said burner means to tend to ignite each burner means in repeating sequences for said predetermined time period upon each initial actuation of said ignition means.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said step of actuating said ignition means includes the step of actuating said ignition means to produce an electrical sparking output thereof.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said ignition means includes a piezoelectric crystal means.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said step of actuating said ignition means includes the step of altering the stresses in said crystal means to produce electric sparks by actuating an actuator means operatively interconnected to said crystal means.

15. A method for igniting a plurality of burner means for a cooking apparatus comprising the steps of actuating an ignition means to produce an igniting output in substantially a continuous manner, and serially directing said igniting output to said burner means to tend to ignite each burner means in sequence, said step of actuating said ignition means comprising the step of actuating said ignition means to produce an electrical sparking output thereof, said ignition means comprising a piezoelectric crystal means, said step of actuating said ignition means comprising the step of altering the stresses in said crystal means to produce electric sparks by actuating an actuator means operatively interconnected to said crystal means, said step of actuating said ignition means comprising the step of alternately interconnecting a pneumatic source to said actuator to actuate the same and disconnecting said source from said actuator to deactuate the same.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said step of serially directing said ignition output to said burner means includes the step of directing said ignition output with an electrical distributor, and operating said distributor in a synchronized manner with the actuation and deactuation of said actuator.

17. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said step for actuating said ignition means includes the step of driving a cam member with an electric motor means to alter said stresses in said crystal means as said cam member is driven by said motor means.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein said step for serially directing said igniting output to said burner means includes the step of distributing said igniting output to said burner means with an electrical distributor, and operating said distributor in a synchronized manner as said cam member is being driven by said motor means.

19. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said step of actuating said ignition means includes the step of actuating said ignition means in a repetitive manner to produce a series of igniting outputs in a substantially continuous manner. v y

20. A method for igniting a plurality of burner means for a cooking apparatus comprising the steps of automatically actuating an ignition means to produce an igniting output in substantially a continuous manner for a predetermined time period, and serially directing said igniting output to said burner means to tend to ignite each burner means in repeating sequences for said predetermined time period upon each initial actuation of 'said igniting output to said pilot burners to tend to ignite each pilot burner in said repeating sequences.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1949 Wasser 4316O EDWARD G. FAVORS, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

